Vibrator



P 1940- R. E. WOOD 2,213,854

VIBRATOR Filed July 29, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l In 1 [Hum c%2 06/2 z07v i qyizm (Z Z @0045 @RMQ KAN Patented Sept. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VIBRATOR of Illinois Application July 29, 1939, Serial No. 287,355

9 Claims.

This invention relates to vibrators or current interrupters and particularly to the type having driving contacts separate from the power contacts. A vibrator of this type finds ready ap- 5 plication in connection with the power supplies of vacuum tubes wherein a low voltage direct current is to be transformed into direct or alternating currents at high voltage.

In a vibrator where the power and driving contacts are separate it is highly desirable that the operation of the contacts be susceptible to separate and individual control. However, in order to provide a compact, simple and efficient structure, it is desirable to combine the reed structures for both as much as possible. Thus in application Serial No. 758,924, there is disclosed a vibrator wherein the reed carries power contacts. The reed itself is provided with a cutout in which is disposed a driving reed carrying 20 the driving contact. The driving reed is thus in the region formerly occupied by the power contact reed. In a construction of this kind, difliulty has been experienced in designing for definite characteristics. As is well known, the.

26 elasticity damping and resistance are characteristics which must be controlled within tolerable limits.

By separating the two reeds, a greater freedom in design for each reed is possible.

30 In general, the unitary and integral construction of the driving and power contact carrying reeds is maintained as in the application referred to above. However, by changing the relation of the parts, a greater flexibility of the entire struc- 35 ture results.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vibrator embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device with 40 certain parts in section;

Fig. 3 is a'view similar to Fig. 1 with the stack broken away to show the driving contacts and with the armature in a diiferent position than in Fig. 1;

45 Fig. 4 is a detail of the reed; and Figures 5 and 6 are details of the contact carrying members for the stationary and movable contacts respectively.

In the drawings, there is shown a frame of 50 magnetizable steel, said frame having sides It) and II joined by a bight portion [2, the entire frame forming a generally U-shaped construction. Bight l2 carries a pole piece l3 terminating in a pole face l4. Surrounding pole piece I3 is a in a! Sides I0 and II of the frame have free ends ['1 and I8 opposing each other and between these free ends is disposed a stack 20. The stack consists of a reed 2| disposed in the center flanked on opposite sides by blocks of insulation 22 and 23. 5 Then follow spacer blocks 24 and 25 and thereafter stationary power contact supporting members 26 and 2! are disposed. Beyond the power stationary contact carrying members are insulating blocks 28 and 29.

The entire stack is maintained together in assembled relation by a pair of transverse bolts 32 and 33 disposed in insulating sleeves 34 and 35. These bolts pass through the ends ['1 and I8 of the frame and with nuts 36 serve to compress the stack and maintain the assembly intact. As is clearly evident in Fig. 2, the component portions of the stack have their interiors out out to provide an open region 38 within the center of the stack and extending upwardly therefrom.

Referring to Fig. 4, reed 2| is of any spring metal such as steel, phosphor bronze, or beryllium copper alloy and may have a generally rectangular shape as shown. The top end of the reed has riveted thereto an armature 40 which is adapted to swing past pole piece I4. As is evident in Fig. 1, in the idle position of the device, armature 4D is adapted to be offset from pole face l4.

Reed 2| has a cut-out 4| extending from below armature 40 down toward an intermediate portion of the reed. As shown, this cut-out is of a generally triangular shape with the base of the triangle near the armature and tapering toward the interior of the reed. The area of the cutout and shape are both functions of the thickness of the spring and are provided to endow the spring with additional flexibility. Preferably the cut-out is curvilinear throughout its extent in order to prevent cracking due to sharp corners.

The center of the reed 42 is substantially below the apex of the cut-out and at this point the reed is preferably solid throughout its full width. Below central portion 42 are a pair of rivet apertures 43 and 44 near the opposite sides of reed 2|. Suitably supported at these apertures are movable power contact carrying members 45 having mounting portions 46 and 47. Each member 45 is preferably of the shape shown and has a clear space 48 between the mounting portions.

Rivets 49 support these contact carrying members 45 as shown. Movable power contacts 50 are supported by members 45 at the tips thereof and as shown in Fig. 2 these contacts 50 are substan Hqllv in line with the narrowed portion of the K5 cut-out 4!. As may be seen in Fig. 3, movable contact supporting members 45 are so shaped that while the supporting portions 46 and 41 are dis posed against "the reed sides the power contacts 50 are spaced fronithe reed to permit the reed to flex freely even after closure of the power contacts.

Cooperatingwiththe movable power contacts 50 are stationary; power contacts 5|, suitably mounted on the carrying members 26 and 27. As shown in Fig. 3,1nembers 26 and 21 are bent so that stationary/contacts 5| may cooperate with the movable contacts 50.

Extending from center 42 of reed 2| downwardly is a cut-out 52 of the shape shown. By virtue of this cut-out, a tongue 53 is formed extending from central portion 42 downwardly. Tongue 53 carries a driving contact 54 at the free end thereof. As shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 4 and also as is evident at Fig. 2, the rigid portion of the reed 2|, that is the clamped portion thereof, extends up from the bottom toward two small semi-circularbays 55 and 56 cut in toward the opposite sides of the reed.

It is thus evident that the reed proper will flex at these bays, particularly at the narrowest part of the reed material. After the power contacts have closed, cut-out M in the reed will permit armature 50 to flex the upper portion of the reed as well as probably have some effect on the flexure at the bays 55 and 5B. Cooperating with movable driving contact 54 is a stationary driving contact 55 threaded into the base, here shown as portion l'l thereof. This may be adjusted to desired position. If desired, stationary contacts on opposite sides of contact 54 may be provided and these function both as driving and power contacts for the shunt type of vibrator.

What is claimed is: l

1. In a vibrator, a base, a pole piece having a pole face and mounted on said base, a magnetizing winding for said pole piece, an elongated reed having an armature at one end thereof adjacent said pole face, means rigidly clamping the other end of said reed on said base, an auxiliary reed having one end thereof on said reed at a point between the armature and the clamped end thereof, said auxiliary reed extending away from the armature, a contact carried by said auxiliary reed, at least one cooperating contact carried by said base, and connections between said contacts and magnetizing winding for effecting reed vibration upon circuit energization.

2. In a vibrator, a base, a pole piece having a pole face and mounted on said base, a magnetizing winding for said pole piece, an elongated reed having an armature at one end thereof adjacent said pole face, means rigidly clamping the other end of said reed on said base, said reed having a cut-out extending from a region of flexure toward the clamped region, an auxiliary reed having one end thereof on said reed in the cut-out space at the region of the flexure and extending away from the armature, a contact carried by said auxiliary reed, at least one cooperating contact carried by said base, and connections between said contacts and magnetizing windings for effecting reed vibration upon circuit energization.

3. The structure of claim 2 whereinsaid firstnamed reed has a plurality of power contacts mounted thereon at a point transversely in line with a portion of said cut-out and cooperating stationary contacts on said base.

4. In a vibrator, a base, a pole piece having a pole face and mounted on said base, a magnetizaaiassa ing winding for said pole piece, an elongated reed having an armature at one end thereof adjacent said, pole face, means rigidly clamping the other end of said reed on said base, said reed having an interior cut-out extending from a region of flexure toward the clamped region, an auxiliary reed having one end thereof on said first-named reed in the cut-out space at the region of fiexure and extending away from the armature, a contact carried by said auxiliary reed, a cooperating contact carried by said base, and connections between said contacts and magnetizing winding for effecting reed vibrations upon circuit energization.

5. In a vibrator, a base, a pole piece having a pole face and mounted on said base, a magnetizing winding for said pole piece, an elongated reed having an armature at one end thereof adjacent said pole face, a stack for rigidly clamping the other end of said reed on said base, said reed having a cut-out extending from a region of flexure toward the clamped region, said stack providing a chamber on opposite sides of said reed cut-out, an auxiliary reed having one end thereof on said main reed in the cut-out at the region of fiexure and extending away from the armature down to the stack, a contact carried by said auxiliary reed at the free end thereof, a cooperating contact carried by said base and extending into the stack chamber, and connections between said contacts and magnetizing winding for effecting reed vibrations upon circuit energizations.

6. The. structure of claim 5 wherein said auxiliary reed is integral with the first-named reed and wherein said first-named reed has a plurality of power contacts mounted thereon in a region transversely in line with a portion of said cut-out and has cooperating contacts on said base.

7. The structure of claim 5 wherein said firstnamed reed has a second cut-out extending between the armature down toward the clamped end but short of the first-mentioned cut-out.

8. In a vibrator, a base, a pole piece having a pole face and mounted on said base, a magnetizing winding for said pole piece, an elongated reed having an armature at one end thereof adjacent said pole face, a stack for rigidly clamping the other end of said reed on said base, said reed having one cut-out extending from a region beyond the clamped end down toward and into the stack with the stack providing a chamber on opposite sides of said cut-out, said reed also having a second cut-out extending from the armature down towards but short of said first cut-out, power contacts carried by said reed at a portion thereof transversely in line with a portion of said first cut-out and at a point of substantial flexure, an auxiliary reed integral with said main reed andextending within the cut-out from beyond the clamped portion of the reed down into the stack, a contact carried by said auxiliary reed, a cooperating contact carried by said base, connections between said contacts and magnetizing winding for effecting reed vibration on circuit energizations and stationary contacts carried by said base for cooperating with said power contacts.

9. The structure of claim 8 wherein each power contact for the reed is carried by a V-shaped member with the tip of the V carrying the contact and the legs straddling the cut-out region and rigidly fastened to the reed sides.

RAYMOND E. WOOD. 

